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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

ISSN 1660-4601, 1661-7827

120 papers in the library · 1,166 citations · publishing 2015-2026

Papers

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The Applicability of Forest Therapy for Socially Isolated Young Adults: Parallel Changes in Psychological Distress and Mindfulness

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health August 19, 2026 Yeji Yang, Ji-Eun Pyo, Yongjun Lee et al.

This study examined the applicability of forest therapy in alleviating psychological distress among socially isolated young adults, with a particular focus on their associations with the mindfulness. A total of 159 socially isolated young adults were recruited from the community and participated in a two-day, one-night forest therapy program. Psychological distress (depression, anxiety,...

Effectiveness of an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Improving Mental Health in Undergraduate Students: A Randomized Clinical Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 30, 2026 Fabiane Dolphine Fuentes Penachiotti, Mirian Yamaguchi, Bráulio Henrique Magnani Branco et al.

This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based intervention in improving positive mental health and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression among undergraduate students, in the context of rising global mental health challenges and limited access to care, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. Brazilian undergraduate pedagogy students...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23070853 (opens in new tab) Mindfulness Anxiety Mental health Randomized controlled trial +9

A Pilot Feasibility Study of Mindful Walking in Older Adults: Exploratory Bayesian Estimates of Psychological Distress and Alexithymia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 25, 2026 Alessandro Germani, Antonella Lopez, Claudia Mirenghi et al.

Population aging demands accessible interventions for psychological well-being in later life. This work evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week mindful walking program in community-dwelling older adults and generated exploratory estimates of within-person change across emotional, psychosomatic, and psychological outcomes. Thirteen community-dwelling older adults participated in...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23070836 (opens in new tab) Mindfulness Psychological intervention Alexithymia Exploratory research +7

Connection to Nature and Psychological Wellbeing: The Role of Mindfulness and Spirituality

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health May 29, 2026 Simin Kazemi, Julia Torquati, Tuyen Huynh

This study examined mindfulness and spirituality as potential explanatory mechanisms underlying the associations between connection to nature and young adults’ psychological wellbeing (depression, anxiety, perceived stress, life satisfaction, and positive states of mind). Two studies employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to test these pathways using different conceptualizations and...

Effectiveness of Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions to Improve Mental Health: A Narrative Review.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 24, 2026 Costanza Vecchio, Chiara Copat, Paola Rapisarda et al.

Background: Human health is closely interconnected to our ecosystem. Several studies found evidence that nature-based interventions improve mental health. Very recently, these approaches have started including mindfulness practices. Nature-based mindfulness interventions (NBMIs) combine contemplative practices with exposure to natural environments and are increasingly recognised as promising...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23050551 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Humans Stress, psychological Mental health Resilience, psychological +4

Cannabis and Psychedelics Among U.S. Young Adults: Use, Messaging Exposure, Perceptions, and Legalization Support

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health February 17, 2026 Carla J. Berg, Cassidy R Loparco, Darcey M. Mccready et al. 1 citation

This study assessed the correlates of cannabis and psychedelic use and legalization support among young adults in the United States (US). Using 2025 data among adults ages 18–34 (n = 3227), we assessed cannabis and psychedelic message exposure and perceptions, mental health symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in relation to past-6-month...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23020255 (opens in new tab) Legalization Harm Mental health Young adult +7

The Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program Is Associated with Sustained Improvement in Clinician Well-Being: Results from an Observational Cohort Study.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health January 28, 2026 Brittany L Garcia, Maureen A Craig, Nicole Adams et al.

Burnout negatively impacts clinicians, patients, and healthcare systems. We examined the immediate and sustained effects of an evidence-based, multi-modal Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) Program on clinician well-being. Clinicians who registered to participate in the SMART Program were invited to join an observational study and complete questionnaires before the program...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph23020161 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Meditation Health personnel Occupational stress Professional burnout

Addressing Psychological Distress in College Students Through Mindfulness Training: A Pre-Post Intervention Across Three Cohorts with Different Delivery Methods.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 27, 2025 Rebecca Ciacchini, Silvia Villani, Mario Miniati et al.

College students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, often triggered by academic pressure, developmental challenges, and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of a structured mindfulness-based program-Mindfulness Laboratory (MLAB)-delivered over three academic years to...

The Impact of Morning Meditation and Sleep Quality on Affective and Health Outcomes in Healthcare Workers.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 9, 2025 Ana Junça-Silva, Marisa Kulyk, António Caetano 2 citations

Health is a critical factor influencing key workplace outcomes, including job attitudes, behaviors, and performance. This study investigated the role of daily micro-breaks, specifically morning meditation practices, and positive affective experiences (i.e., positive affect) at work in predicting health-related outcomes, namely vitality and mental health. Using a non-experimental design, this...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22040592 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Meditation practices Mental health Micro-breaks Positive affect +7

French Translation and Validation of the Ontological Addiction Scale (OAS).

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 27, 2025 Déborah Ducasse, Martin Leurent, Marie-Christine Picot et al. 1 citation

According to ontological addiction theory, the root cause of mental suffering is a dysfunctional conceptualisation of the self. Typically, an individual with such a flawed self-concept deems themselves to be intrinsically separate from their surroundings, with their beliefs, choices and behaviours structured in order to reinforce their sense of an independently existing self. The Ontological...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22040511 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Buddhist-derived practices Ontological addiction scale Scale validation

Psychedelics: Safety and Efficacy.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health January 21, 2025 Norman S. Miller 1 citation

Psychedelic research has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with many researchers exploring the possible therapeutic effects of these drugs. Medical institutions, universities, pharmaceutical companies, and governmental institutions alike have been showing an increase in support of this research, as shown through the recent establishment of various psychedelic research facilities across...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22020134 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Psychedelic therapy Mental health treatment Clinical research Psychiatric medicine

Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Professional Development Program for Primary School Teachers in the Czech Republic: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 14, 2024 Kamila Dvořáková, Laura García Valladares, Bethany Butzer et al. 3 citations

Research has shown that 20% of Czech teachers suffer with burnout symptoms and 65% are at risk of burning out, which suggests that it is essential to continue addressing the issue of stress in Czech teachers. The main objective of this study was to evaluate a self-compassion and mindfulness-based professional development program for primary school teachers in the Czech Republic. Five schools...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121669 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Mindfulness Compassion Primary school teachers Stress management techniques +1

About Distress in Chronic Pain Conditions: A Pre-Post Study on the Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Fibromyalgia and Low Back Pain Patients.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health November 13, 2024 Rebecca Ciacchini, Ciro Conversano, Graziella Orrù et al. 5 citations

Chronic pain (CP) affects about 30% of the global population and poses significant challenges to individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. The interactions between physiological, psychological, and social factors are crucial in the onset and development of CP conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention, examining its impact on perceived...

A Pilot and Feasibility Study on a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Adapted for LGBTQ+ Adolescents.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health October 16, 2024 Kasey D Klimo, Jessica Walls Wilson, Charlotte Farewell et al. 1 citation

(1) Background: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other gender and sexual minority-identified (LGBTQ+) adolescents face mental and physical health disparities compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may be a potential method to intervene upon health disparities in this population. This pilot study explores the initial...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21101364 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Lgbtq+ health Acceptability Adolescent health Feasibility +1

Bi-Directional and Time-Lagged Associations between Engagement and Mental Health Symptoms in a Group Mindfulness-Based Mental Health Intervention.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health August 5, 2024 Brock A Rigsby, Reagan L Miller, Megan J Moran et al.

There is a high need for accessible avenues for improving mental health among emerging adults, particularly on college campuses. Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) is a promising avenue for reducing mental health symptoms, but initial discomforts associated with MBI may cause symptoms to fluctuate before decreasing, which presents a barrier to engagement with mindfulness on a daily basis....

Yoga as a Contemplative Practice and Its Contribution to Participatory Self-Knowledge and Student Retention: A Scoping Review of the First-Year Undergraduate Student Transition.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health July 7, 2024 Beverley Martin, Blake Peck, Daniel Terry 5 citations

Contemplative pedagogy, specifically yoga, introduced into the higher education curriculum has the potential to develop and entrain intellectual, emotional, and social development in relation to mental health among university students studying for medical and nursing degrees. The objective of the study is to determine the extent of the current literature on the prevalence of yoga as a...

An Eight-Week Zen Meditation and Music Programme for Mindfulness and Happiness: Qualitative Content Analysis.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health December 4, 2023 Mi Hyang Hwang, Leslie Bunt, Catherine Warner 9 citations

Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness programmes have been explored to provide students with pleasant and satisfying experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on the mindfulness and happiness...

An Individual's Lived Experiences of Taking Cannabis-Based Medicinal Products (CBMPs) to Treat Anxiety.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health September 18, 2023 Samantha Hurn

This report documents the case of a patient (the author) participating in a clinical trial of medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.)-the Sapphire Access Scheme, run by the Sapphire Medical Clinic as part of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry-to explore the impacts of cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) on anxiety. For most of my life, I have experienced often very serious bouts of poor...

"It Is Definitely a Good Program for Everyone from Every Community": A Qualitative Study of Community Partner Perspectives on the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Mindfulness Program.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health August 18, 2023 Ilse Blignault, Hend Saab, Hanan Youssef et al.

Meeting the health needs of migrant and refugee communities is crucial to successful settlement and integration. These communities are often under-served by mental health services. Previous research has demonstrated the effectiveness of a group mindfulness-based intervention tailored for Arabic and Bangla speakers living in Sydney, Australia. This study aimed to explore community partner...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166608 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Humans Language Qualitative research Health resources +10

Association of Loneliness and Mindfulness in Substance Use Treatment Retention.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health August 13, 2023 Johnathan M Herczyk, Keith J Zullig, Stephen M Davis et al.

Background: Elevated mental illness prevalence complicates efforts designed to address the opioid crisis in Appalachia. The recovery community acknowledges that loneliness impacts mood and engagement in care factors; however, the predictive relationship between loneliness and retention in medication-assisted outpatient treatment programs has not been explored. Our objectives were to identify...

Examining the Psychoactive Differences between Kratom Strains

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health July 21, 2023 Guido Huisman, Maximilian Menke, Oliver Grundmann et al. 13 citations

) is a Southeast Asian plant containing various alkaloids that induce pharmacological effects in humans. In Western countries, online vendors sell a variety of different kratom strains which are marketed to have distinct effect profiles. However, as of yet such marketing claims are unsubstantiated, and therefore the current study investigated whether differently colored kratom products can...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20146425 (opens in new tab) Traditional medicine Population Advertising Environmental health +1

Does the Sound of a Singing Bowl Synchronize Meditational Brainwaves in the Listeners?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 19, 2023

This study aims to verify if the beating sound of a singing bowl synchronizes and activates brain waves during listening. The singing bowl used in this experiment produce beats at a frequency of 6.68 Hz, while it decays exponentially and lasts for about 50 s. Brain waves were measured for 5 min in the F3 and F4 regions of seventeen participants (eight males and nine females, average age 25.2)...

The Relationship between Mindfulness and Readiness to Change in Alcohol Drinkers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health May 1, 2023 Eid Abo Hamza, Adam Yoon, Liquan Liu et al. 6 citations

Mindfulness is a multi-faceted construct that involves paying attention to thoughts and emotions without automatically reacting and being critical of them. Recent research has suggested that mindfulness might play an important role in reducing problematic alcohol use. Further, Readiness to Change (RTC) is related to motivation to change drinking behaviours. The RTC scale identifies motivation...

Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Stress Reduction and Psychological Wellbeing of University Students in Pakistan: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 14, 2023 Anum Sarfraz, Salma Siddiqui, Julieta Galante et al. 14 citations

The rise in mental health concerns of university students is causing a serious hinderance to their wellbeing, impeding their functioning. The socio-economic and political friction in low- and middle-income countries adds to their vulnerability and calls for a cost-effective indigenous intervention. Consequently, this study aimed to inform a large definitive trial by assessing the feasibility...

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085512 (opens in new tab) Randomized controlled trial Mental health Mindfulness-based stress reduction Perceived stress scale +5

Web-Based Physical Activity Interventions to Promote Resilience and Mindfulness Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 11, 2023 Michele Wolf Marenus, Ana Cahuas, Dianna Hammoud et al. 6 citations

College students faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing a physical activity intervention can help support the physical and mental health of college students. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an aerobic–strength training exercise intervention (WeActive) and a mindful exercise intervention (WeMindful) in improving resilience and mindfulness...